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Part of the Drama Two Curriculum

Character Analysis - Part 1

Created by Matt Webster

Character Analysis - Part 1

The Drama Two Curriculum has been developed to expand and deepen students’ skills as artists. In this unit, students will explore character analysis, which is key to developing three-dimensional characters in monologues, scenes, and plays. In Part 1, they will start with Uta Hagen’s nine questions for character analysis.

Overview
The overview lays out the objectives, description, and lessons for the unit, including pre-knowledge requirements and review.
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1: Uta Hagen's Nine Questions
Introduce your students to Uta Hagen and the nine questions she uses for character development.
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2: An Organic Approach to Objective, Obstacle, Stakes, and Action/Tactic
To introduce the idea of “objective/goal, obstacle, stakes, and action/tactic” as a powerful building block for actors and to introduce the concept of working with verbs as tactics
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3: Scoring and Beats
To introduce the idea of “objective/goal, obstacle, and action/tactic” to simple scenes by scoring those scenes and playing the scored text.
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4: Status Monkeys
To learn how status influences characterization and character actions by participating in “Status Monkeys” and other interactions based on status
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5: Project
To demonstrate comprehension and understanding of content and concepts through the analysis and performance of an open scene.
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Standards Addressed

National Core Arts Standards

Select, analyze, and interpret artistic work for presentation - Grade 8

TH:Pr4.1.8.b - Use various character objectives and tactics in a drama/theatre work to overcome an obstacle.

Organize and develop artistic ideas and work - Grade HS Accomplished

TH:Cr2.1.HSII.b - Cooperate as a creative team to make interpretive choices for a drama/theatre work.

Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade 6

TH:Cr3.1.6.a - Articulate and examine choices to refine a devised or scripted drama/theatre work.

Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work - Grade 7

TH:Pr6.1.7.a - Participate in rehearsals for a drama/theatre work that will be shared with an audience.

Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade 7

TH:Cr3.1.7.a - Demonstrate focus and concentration in the rehearsal process to analyze and refine choices in a devised or scripted drama/theatre work.

Convey meaning through the presentation of artistic work - Grade 8

TH:Pr6.1.8.a - Perform a rehearsed drama/theatre work for an audience.

Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade 8

TH:Cr3.1.8.a - Use repetition and analysis in order to revise devised or scripted drama/theatre work.

Refine new work through play, drama processes and theatre experiences using critical analysis and experimentation - Grade HS Advanced

TH:Cr3.1.HSIII.a - Refine, transform, and re-imagine a devised or scripted drama/theatre work using the rehearsal process to invent or re-imagine style, genre, form, and conventions.

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